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When dealing with people who frustrate, annoy, and hassle you: Look at their behavior. Refuse to be offended. Cut them some slack. Refuse to gossip about them. You also need to refuse to play their game. Some people love to argue and debate. They use conflict to get your attention. When people try to get your attention through conflict, they’re just trying to hook you. They don’t really care what you think. They’re just trying to pull you into their game.You see this all the time on the internet. Somebody makes an off-the-wall statement, and you go, “I’m going to set him straight!” And at that moment, the other person is going, “Got ’em! I just hooked a big one!” Every bone in your body wants to fire off a reply to that blog, that email, or that Facebook post.Don’t do it! It’s a trap. Somebody once said, “If you wrestle in the mud with a pig, both of you will get dirty, but only one of you will enjoy it.” Stay out of the mud. Don’t get sucked into the argument. Just walk on by.Proverbs 26:21 says, “Just as charcoal and wood keep a fire going, a quarrelsome person keeps an argument going”.Some people l love to keep the argument going. They find their meaning, their purpose, and their value by getting you upset. Don’t play their game. Don’t get drawn into it. They’re not looking for answers. They’re just looking for an argument. How many people does it take to argue? It takes two, right? If one of them walks away, what happens to the argument? It ends. The fire goes out. Sometimes the most merciful thing you can do is walk away from the argument. Lets strive by daily studying and obeying GODs Word to accomplish GOD's Purpose for our lives https://goo.gl/rgVRZ4

As you search Scripture for God’s truth, it’s important to understand what the Bible says about three controversial issues. I mention these three because they are the ones you need the most courage to speak up about. Why? Because not only will many people disagree with you about these topics, they will also be very passionate in their argument.It takes an uncommon courage to stand up against that kind of pressure.There are a lot of parts of the Bible that people don’t have a problem with, like “You must help the poor.” Nobody disagrees with that. But there are three areas related to sanctity that some Christians avoid talking about. They are:

The sanctity of life: God has a purpose for every unborn child. God planned your life before you were born: “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed” (Psalm 139:16 ). We are to speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves — the unborn, the 70 million Americans who would be here if they hadn’t been aborted. If I claim to be a Christian, then I must believe that every life is sacred.
The sanctity of sex: Sex is only for marriage. Sex was God’s idea. It isn’t dirty or wrong; sex is holy. “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral” (Hebrews 13:4 NIV). God’s instructions never change: Premarital sex is unacceptable to God. Living together without being married is unacceptable to God. Adultery is unacceptable to God. Pornography and the objectification of women are unacceptable to God.
The sanctity of marriage: One man and one woman for life. That is God’s intended, original design. A lot of people ask, “Well, what about all the polygamy in the Bible?” The Bible doesn’t approve everything it reports the Bible. So why do we call it a “holy” Bible? Because it tells the truth, and it is very clear on the issue of marriage: “At the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh . . .’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate” (Matthew 19:4-6 ).

There are many issues of life where people of goodwill can disagree. For example, there’s no economic recovery plan in the Bible, and Christians can disagree on that. But if you call yourself a disciple of Christ, you need to line yourself up with what God says about the sanctity of these three things. And you need to have the courage to stand up for them, even and especially when it’s not the popular or politically correct thing to do.

We Need YOU JESUS

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JESUS CHRIST'S goal is a relationship with you! HE will never leave you, forsake you, mislead you, forget you, overlook you, and never cancel your appointment in HIS appointment book! If you fall, HE can lift you up. When you fail, HE can forgive you. When you are weak, HE is strong. When you are lost, HE is The Way. When you are afraid, HE is courage. When you stumble, HE could steady you. When you are hurt, HE can heal you. When you are broken, HE can mend you. When you are blind, HE can lead you. When you are hungry, HE can feed you. When you face trials, HE can be with you. When you face persecution, HE can strengthen you. When you face problems, HE can comfort you. When you face loss, HE can provide for you. HE is everything for everybody, everywhere, every time, and in every way.Repent (turn entirely away) from evildoing. Be baptized in The Name of JESUS CHRIST and ask to be filled with and disciplined by THE SPIRIT OF GOD. Prayerfully study, apply and obey The WORD of GOD, no matter what others are saying or doing.

It is by THE WORD of GOD, that you can have peace, joy, receive healing and direction. It is by THE WORD of GOD, that you can have a right relationship with our CREATOR. It is by THE WORD of GOD, that you can know HIS Son JESUS CHRIST, who died for the sins of the whole world. By THE WORD of GOD,the earth was created, and the sun, stars and universe were brought into existence. By THE WORD of GOD, we will be judged for our actions. The earth will pass away, but THE WORD of GOD, will never pass away. With all the benefits, wisdom and knowledge available in this resource, it would be foolish not to apply and obey it ( 2 Timothy 3:16). Our FATHER in Heaven, has given us This Treasure so that we may not only have success while we live, but also into eternity. Worldly wisdom and philosophies will rot and decay. Take time out today while you have life, and prayerfully seek what our JUDGE has to say through HIS WORD; your life is on the line. By doing so we can learn HIS VOICE, and if we humble ourselves and pray wholeheartedly and seek HIS FACE, no weapon formed against us shall prosper, HE will fight our battles, pardon our iniquities, shield us from the darts of the enemy, answer our prayers, and come and take residence in us; Heaven will be our destination and HE can use us to help those that we encounter to turn from wickedness and escape a hell that has no exits, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth from horror and torment. The choice is yours. Repent (turn entirely away) from evildoing. Be baptized in The Name of JESUS CHRIST and ask to be filled with and disciplined by THE SPIRIT OF GOD. Prayerfully study, apply and obey The WORD of GOD, no matter what others are saying or doing

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We Need YOU JESUS

This world keeps setting higher and higher expectations that it’s no wonder so many people walk around feeling as if they just don’t measure up. To enroll your child in private school requires an interview to determine if they are well mannered, come from a “good” family and excel in academics. To get a job doesn’t get any easier, as you’re competing against other applicants who might be smarter, more creative, or have a more impressive resume. And sadly, there are even churches who want only the best and brightest to hold church leadership. If you’ve convinced yourself that you have nothing to offer God and are waiting until you become “perfect” for you to serve Him - think again! He wants you to work for Him based on “who you are” rather than “what you are not!” It may surprise you to know that God doesn’t judge you on your “ability” but rather what’s in your heart. The Bible says in 1 Samuel 16:7, “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” God’s job requirements are different than man's. He doesn’t just choose the best looking, most talented or the ones who scored highest on exams. God requires a surrendered heart, and He can do extraordinary things with it. Afterall, God created this invisible world - out of invisible properties. He merely spoke - and it was done! Just imagine what God can do with you? Surrender your heart and life to Him today - and begin your amazing adventure in God’s service!

Long before psychology came around, God said your thoughts determine your feelings and your feelings determine your actions.
Our minds are really an amazing creation. It would take a computer the size of the Pentagon just to carry out the basic functions of your brain. Your brain contains over 100 billion nerve cells. Each individual cell is connected with 10,000 other neurons.
You are constantly talking to yourself — all the time. You’re talking to yourself right now! Research indicates that most people speak at a rate of 150 to 200 words per minute, but the internal dialogue that you carry on with yourself (self-talk) is more like 1,300 words per minute.
The problem is that in all our self-talk, a lot of people are like Job. In Job 9:2 https://goo.gl/Tq36wc, he says,“Everything I say seems to condemn me” . If you’re typical, you are your own worst critic. Right? You’re always putting yourself down. You could walk into a room smiling, but inside you’re saying, “I’m fat. I’m not smart enough. I’m ugly. And I’m always late.” Most of this dialogue is unconscious.

God wants you to stop putting yourself down. When you put yourself down, who are you really putting down? You’re really pointing to the Creator who made you. When you say, “God, I’m worthless; I’m no good; I can’t do anything,” you’re actually saying, “God, you blew it with me.” That’s why God says it’s wrong to put yourself down.
How do you eliminate negative self-talk so you can become a more confident person? It’s the principle of replacement: “Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right . . . Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about it” (Philippians 4:8) https://goo.gl/I6MTDq .

Focus on what you want to be, on what God wants to do in your life. I don’t know any better antidote to low self-esteem than to read God’s Word every day. Study it, memorize it, meditate on it, and apply it in your life. I can’t tell you a better thing to help you raise your confidence level than to get in the Bible and start believing what God says about you. https://goo.gl/MkKhyn (Heaven and hell)
My desire to obey God’s voice and do the ‘right thing’, but when Satan puts temptation in your path - you end up doing the very thing that you really “don’t” want to do. Afterwards, you’re filled with guilt and disappointment because once again, you sinned against God. The Bible says in Mark 14:38, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” It’s so important to stay close to Jesus so that you will not fall - no matter what Satan throws at you! God will give you the strength to resist the devil which is confirmed in Isaiah 40:29, “He gives strength to the weary, and increases the power of the weak.” And here's the good news: You can claim God’s promise in 1 Corinthians 10:13, which says, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” It can’t get much clearer than that! Being willing is not enough - you need God’s Holy Spirit power to make the right choices. Stay close to Jesus and He will give you His strength to resist temptation and shine for Him!

You know, the garbage of sin, otherwise known as the devil’s tools of discouragement such as; anger, jealousy, resentment, unforgiveness, selfishness or self pity. It is all garbage in our hearts, weighing us down and for some crazy reason we want to hang on to it! It just doesn’t make sense why we have such a hard time letting go of the very things that separate us from God. The old expression “garbage in - garbage out” is so true. If we fill our hearts with resentment and anger - then that is what is going to come out in all our deeds and actions! Pray David’s prayer in Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Once we allow God to clean our hearts, there is such an amazing transformation that no words can truly describe - true joy such as we have never known!

Deep-rooted changes are necessary to stop the enemy from robbing blessings and promises! When something goes wrong with one of your children; when your marriage seems unstable or just dangling by a thread; when you feel oppressed, depressed, stressed, or just plain unhappy-it's time for aggressive changes!
How long do we wait to make a valuable and life-transforming change? Do we procrastinate and play the blame game until change becomes an uphill, almost unmanageable situation? If you're a believer in Christ, you have at your disposal wisdom, knowledge, and understanding from God's Word. A Christian cannot function and have peace of mind without these attributes being part of his or her daily life. A daily portion of Scripture and prayer must become a habitual practice. Spiritual nourishment is just as important as food and water

Just as God has a special plan for your life, don’t forget that Satan does too! In fact the Bible says in John 10:10, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” The devil’s plan is downright lethal, which is why God gave you powerful weapons of mass destruction to strike down the enemy! When Satan tries to discourage you - hit him with the weapon of “praise!” It’s impossible to be singing praises to God and be discouraged at the same time! When the devil tries to influence you to go against God’s Holy Word - fight back with “Obedience!” God will give you the victory - all you need to do is allow Him to fight your battles! Another powerful weapon is “faith!” When you put your full faith and trust in God - it’s an amazing weapon to fight the devils doubt-filled arrows. Put on the whole armor of Christ and you will win an awesome victory! And let’s not forget one of the most effective weapons of all - the ammunition of “prayer!” Nothing can penetrate your shield of faith if you are directly connected to your heavenly Father! Remember, God will give you the power to fight the enemy - no matter what he throws at you! So put your spiritual armor on and get ready for battle against the devil's’ attacks - using the powerful weapons God gave you!

Gentleness is often spoken about in the Bible and is one of the words used to describe Jesus’ character. Yet in today’s society, being “gentle,” is sometimes viewed in a negative way - as if you’re a “sissy,” or even considered weak. But gentleness is a trait we should all strive for. It takes a lot of strength to respond with a gentle voice when someone is screaming at you. Gentleness is really “strength” that is released in an appropriate, controlled manner. It’s especially important to be gentle when sharing your faith. No one wants to listen to someone pushy who comes off as a “know-it-all!” Jesus was never a bully nor did He preach in a loud, bossy, authoritative voice. He simply told the truth, and allowed others to choose whether or not they followed His teaching. The Bible says in Philippians 4:5, “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” Determine today to be more like Jesus and treat others with courtesy, kindness, thoughtfulness and respect - and it is then that you’ll discover the strength of gentleness.

We Need YOU JESUS

We are living in a world that places a high value on wealth, fame and prestige. It doesn’t help that television and movies give people a false sense of what happiness is all about. We watch our favorite characters jet set to exotic vacations, wear designer clothes, drive fancy cars and live the life of luxury. Without even realizing it, the desire is implanted in our minds to have all those things we don’t have! But here lies the danger: we can be so focused on getting what we “think we want” that we lose sight of the the blessings we already have! Keeping our minds set on earthly goals is Satan’s plan to distract us from our “heavenly goal.” As long as we measure “happiness” in terms of obtaining “the impossible dream” - we will never be happy, nor will we be preparing to spend eternity with our Savior! The Bible tells us in Philippians 4:11, “I have learned to be content with whatever I have.” Instead of wishing for a bigger house, a position of power or even a better family - learn to be content with what God has already given, and discover the blessing of contentment!

Some people think God just dreamed up a bunch of rules to make everyone miserable but the real reason God gave the Ten Commandments is because He loves you and wants you to have a better life. But here’s something you might not have thought about - did you know that there’s a direct correlation between obedience and answered prayer? The Bible says in 1 John 3:22, “And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” Pay special attention to the part about “because we keep His commandments.” And in Psalm 84:11 we learn, “No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” God couldn’t have made it more plain that his criteria for answered prayer is - obedience. When you are praying and God doesn’t seem to hear - ask yourself: “Am I obedient to God? Is there something in my life that goes against His law? Do I only pray when I want to “use God” to get what I want?” Before putting your requests before God, be obedient! You can start by praying the prayer David prayed in Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

All too often people go through life without any thought of the future - living in the moment and partying their life away. They are so focused on “self” that they become oblivious to the wants and needs of anyone else. But this is not only a meaningless and lonely existence, it is also a dangerous slippery slope. Before you know it, you become just like the prodigal son in the Bible - who lost everything and hit rock bottom before he looked up and saw his need for a Savior. It’s when you have nothing left - that you realize . . . God is enough! Only a life for Christ will bring everlasting happiness. Stop living for “self,” and start living for Jesus! It is the only way to live a “joy-filled” life that God wants you to have! So no matter how selfishly you have lived in the past, what mistakes you’ve made or how long it has been since you attended church - it’s not too late to give your heart to God, for He loves you more than anyone else possibly could, and He is waiting to welcome you with open arms!

When you fall in love with Jesus - you just can’t help but change because - Jesus changes you! The old person that you once were - is gone and your new life as a Christian now defines who you are. However, you can not experience a vibrant life in Christ one moment and dance with the devil the next! You must take sides and choose whom you will serve, because you can only serve “one Master!” If you choose to “dabble” in sin, you will be absolutely miserable! You simply can not lie, cheat, gossip or any other sin and live a life of purity and commitment to your Lord and Savior. The Bible says in Joshua 24:15, “ . . . choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Make God first in your life and you will experience the real joy in living - for Jesus IS the joy in life and it is not possible to be happy and serve Satan! Make your choice to serve Jesus and don’t dance with the devil!

The Bible is very clear about how God feels about “forgiveness.” In Matthew 6:14 we’re told, “ But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Many times we “think” we have forgiven, but we really haven’t. We are harboring bitterness that we don’t even realize is there. Unless we get rid of all unforgiveness in our hearts - we can never have a close relationship with our heavenly Father, and neither will God be able to carry out His perfect plan for our lives. But even worse - we will miss out on eternity with Jesus because if God doesn’t forgive our sins - we won’t be going to heaven! We need to ask God to reveal to us any unforgiveness in our hearts and not hold grudges against family members, friends or strangers who “have done us wrong.” God’s requirement to forgive is not dependent upon the person asking for forgiveness or whether or not the mistreatment was justified. We are to follow Jesus advice in Matthew 18:21-22 “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times? Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” Learning to forgive is something we all need to do - our salvation depends on it!

How we live our lives each day has a big impact on all those around us, especially our families. It makes sense because they are the ones that we spend the most time with. If we want to shine for Jesus - we need to first start at home! Our attitude, the decisions we make and how we react to day to day situations shows whether or not Christ is living in us. Sometimes we make an effort to be kind to strangers, but then come home and act quite differently with those we love the most. But living a Christ-centered life doesn’t mean that you act like a Christian all day long and then when you get home you throw your “Christian Cap,” on the hook and become someone else! God wants you to shine for him all the time - especially at home! When arguments and tempers start to rise, call on Jesus to give you the strength to respond in love. With Christ as the center of the home, family ties are the strongest and so is family love!!

When someone has treated you unfairly or done something to hurt you or someone you love - your first response is usually fueled by fiery rage! The sting of injustice immediately reaches out to push your anger button - but before you do - remember that how you respond is a choice. Ephesians 4:26 says, “In your anger do not sin.” And in verse 31 the message is clear: “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” You can choose to get mad and even lay awake at night thinking of ways to even the score - or - you can just “let it go.” The Bible says in James 1:19-20, “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” It not only displeases God when you let your temper flare, it won’t make you feel any better either! When you find yourself in a situation that it takes every ounce of strength not to explode with anger - stop . . . take a breath . . . and then just let it go! Give all your hurt and pain to Jesus and ask Him to put forgiveness in your heart for those who did you wrong! You’ll be surprised at how much better you’ll feel without carrying around that anchor of pain! And best of all - you’re pleasing God!

When you feel like there are not enough hours in the day, expectations are too high, it’s impossible to get everything done you need to do and your life is spinning out of control - stop and ask yourself, “When was the last time I prayed? When was the last time I studied my Bible?” and “When was the last time I truly felt close to God?” Quite often when you are stressed out and your anxiety level has reached it’s limit - it’s because you have neglected your quiet time with God. Somehow the pressures of life and demands of others, placed you on overload and instead of making Jesus “first” in your life, He was relegated to the back burner. Whenever you neglect God - your life will spiral downward. You can’t possibly be happy because Jesus IS the Joy of Living! Yet, too often, when feeling burned out, and over-stressed, you reach for your smartphone to check Twitter, Facebook and Instagram - which leaves you feeling even more anxious. Instead of going for social media - go to God’s Word! Stop running on empty, and read his comforting words of love and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart. Then, drop to your knees and ask for an extra measure of God’s peace, the greatest stress reliever of all!

Some people pray beautiful, eloquent prayers, while others pray short, awkward prayers, and still others don’t pray at all because they simply don’t know how. But here’s the truth: there is no “wrong way” to pray! Prayer is simply communicating with your Creator God - and however you would normally talk with your best friend, is a good way to pray. Just share what is on your heart, in your own words, the way you would normally say things! God doesn’t expect you to have a degree in communications before you approach His throne room. Nor does He only listen to or answer the “beautiful” prayers! In fact, the most powerful prayer you could ever pray consists of only three words: “Jesus Save Me!” That prayer alone can send thousands of angels to your side for “divine intervention.” It’s important to pray with faith - the Bible says in Matthew 21:22, “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” Pray about everything, pray often, and pray with faith - remembering, there is no wrong way to pray!

Attitude is a choice - you can either choose to allow God to shine through you in every situation, or you can choose to have a sour attitude when things don’t go your way. No one can “make” you angry, mad or even sarcastic - because it is “you” who has the power over your emotions. But once you let the actions of someone else or a dismal situation dictate your mood or behavior - you are no longer in control, and that’s a dangerous place to be. Wallowing in self pity and bitterness, harboring negative thoughts, complaining and criticizing - is not God’s way. The Bible says in Philippians 2:5, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” And in Philippians 4:11 we’re told, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” Don’t dwell on the ugly things in life - choose the attitude of Christ. It’s not humanly possible to always be content and happy but with God all things are possible. It is Christ Jesus who gives you the strength to be like Him each day. Every morning before heading out the door - spend time in prayer and ask God to give you the power to be like Him - choose a Christ-like attitude and don’t forget to claim, Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me

In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with GOD, and the WORD was GOD. The same was in the beginning with GOD. All things were made by HIM; and without HIM was not any thing made that was made

Do you desire to spend alone time with your Creator - or when push comes to shove, the busyness of your day takes precedence - and there’s simply no time to give God? If you want a vibrant life with Jesus - you can’t afford “not” to take time for Him. Change your life by implementing “The Three “D’s” - 1. “Decide” daily to begin your day with personal devotions - praise and worship to your Lord and Savior. 2. “Determine” in your heart to make this special time with God your highest priority. 3. “Discipline” yourself to be persistent, and diligent, letting nothing interfere or distract you from this alone time with your heavenly Father. It won’t be long before you’ll experience the true joy of knowing Jesus as your best Friend and your time with Him will be a joyful delight that satisfies your soul more than you could have possibly imagined. The Bible says in Psalm 107:9, “For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.” The more time you spend with God, the more time you’ll want to be with Him and soon you’ll find that the ten minutes you set aside - is just not long enough! After spending time with Jesus - you’ll be surprised at how much better your day will be - and best of all, what a better person you’ve become because the more time you spend with Jesus - the more you become like Him! Make the decision to spend quality time with God . . . today and every day!

There are times when you struggle with being tempted to do things that you know are not right. You’ve fallen so many times that it seems you’re on a losing streak with the devil. It might even be a sin that is considered “no big deal” in the world, and you’re comforted by knowing that “no one else could possibly know.” But when you’re walking the Christian walk, your conscience will give you no rest. The Holy Spirit is pleading with you to surrender your secret sin, but when you keep ignoring God’s voice, the devil wins! As you spiral downward in your walk with Jesus, and continue down the wrong path, discouragement sets in, and you’re tempted to give up and quit trying to resist the temptation. You may have even prayed and asked God to take away those temptations - for if you no longer had the desire to sin - you wouldn’t have to worry about messing up. But if God just removed the temptation - you would not be leaning on Him for strength. God wants you to “choose” to serve Him and depend on His strength to resist whatever the devil throws your way. The Bible says in Proverbs 21:30-31,”There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord . . . but victory rests with the Lord.” And in Psalm 60:12 we’re told, “With God we will gain the victory, and He will trample down our enemies.” You can have the victory over temptation - when you fully surrender your heart and life to God

Have you ever wondered what the Bible means in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, where we are instructed to "pray without ceasing?" Does that mean that we’re supposed to stay on our knees 24/7 and pray? Of course not. The Bible is not describing a formal or noticeable act of prayer - but rather a way of life - an attitude of prayer, where we are comfortable talking with God anytime - and anywhere! It is living life with a deep awareness of God at all times and allowing Him to guide our every thought, deed and action. In other words, we should walk so close to Jesus that we consult Him about everything and acknowledge Him as our Best Friend who we want to share our life with. When we are constantly in an attitude of prayer - it is life changing, for every part of our day is influenced by God’s presence. When something awesome happens - our first thought is to praise Him, when in the presence of evil - we send an SOS heavenward or when tempted - Jesus is the first person we ask for strength to resist the temptation. Praying without ceasing allows us to live our lives with a continual ascending prayer where we consult God in every life circumstance. When we don’t value the privilege of prayer by rushing through, asking for help only when we are in trouble - we don't experience the true joy of communing with God. We also miss out on so many blessings. We need to learn to pray with patience - pray believing and pray without ceasing!

There is nothing sadder than to look into the eyes of someone who has lost all hope! Without “hope,” there’s really no reason to get up in the morning, to go about your daily duties or even to function at all. People without hope go through the motions of “living,” and are in constant misery. But praise the Lord there is no reason why anyone should live without “hope,” because Jesus IS your hope! Because of Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary, hope reigns eternal! There’s no need to live in darkness and despair, walking around with a dejected look on your face because - Jesus is the answer! When you give your life over to Him -. You can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God has a bright future planned for you - living with Him in heaven for all eternity! It just doesn’t get better than that! The Bible says in Isaiah 40:31, “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” And you can claim God’s promise in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” What a wonderful, merciful and loving God! Whenever you’re discouraged and it seems all hope is gone - look up - for Jesus IS your “hope!”

When bringing your requests before the throne room of God, it’s important to remember that God knows what is best for you and you need to trust Him to answer according to His will - not yours. But far too often Christians approach God with their “To Do List,” and even worse - tell Him ‘how’ to answer their prayers! When spiritual stubbornness overtakes your faith in God, it’s not long before you get irritated and blame Him if you don’t get your way! But you will never experience real joy and happiness unless you allow God to come into your heart and life and give Him full control! No matter how much you want God to work a miracle on your behalf - you need to give up your desires and expectations and trust Him to make the decision that is best for you. The Bible says in James 4:3, “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” When you don’t get the job you wanted, broken because you are childless, or you don’t get the diagnosis you were hoping for - it doesn’t mean that God doesn’t love you or has abandoned you. God has good reasons why He does what He does but He is NOT ignoring you - He ‘always’ answers prayer! It may be that healing won’t happen until you get to heaven and get a new body - but as long as you are following Jesus and His plan for your life - it’s all good! You have nothing to worry about because God has you covered! Don’t blame Him for not getting what you want - instead, pray for more faith to trust Him more for He is still in the miracle-making business today and has the power to change your life - preparing you for eternity. Yes . . . it’s all good!

For Daily Scripture text "JESUS" to 248 467 2048

When you feel all alone, thinking that no one would notice if you fell off the face of the earth . . . Jesus does! You could be in the depths of despair, feeling that there’s not a person in the world that truly “loves you,” . . . but Jesus does! There’s a beautiful song by Gordon Jensen, that goes like this: “God sees the tears of a broken hearted soul, He sees your tears and hears them when they fall, God weeps along with man and He takes him by the hand, Tears are a language God understands. When grief has left you low, it causes tears to flow, When things have not turned out the way that you had planned. But God won't forget you His promises are true, And tears are a language God understands.” Remember that no matter how “all alone you feel,” you are never really alone, because Jesus is always with you, and “help” is only a prayer away! You may “feel” unloveable, but God loves you so much He gave His life just so that you could spend eternity with Him in heaven! You may think you’re “unworthy” - but Jesus makes you worthy! God sees your tears, and longs for you to run into his arms of love, where He will wipe away each tear, and fill your empty heart with His joy!

We Need YOU JESUS

One of the fastest ways to self-destruct is to gossip! Yet, there are people who just can’t seem to help themselves and feel the need to talk about everyone. They hear the slightest bit of news, and they simply can’t wait to share it with the first person they meet. You might think as long as you are telling the truth as you know it -then it’s okay! No harm done! Perhaps you saw a friend’s spouse having what appeared to be an intimate lunch and ran and told someone. Then they told someone else and the incident was told over and over - ruining this man’s reputation, causing pain to his wife and family and others. But what you didn’t know was that lady at the “intimate dinner” was his sister sharing personal heartache. Sticking your nose in someone else’s business can do a lot of damage and cause unnecessary pain. Make no mistake, the disease of “gossip,” is real and deadly - not only for the people who are assassinated by words - but for you as well because there will be no gossipers in heaven! The Bible says in Psalm 101:5, “Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, Him I will destroy; The one who has a haughty look and a proud heart, Him I will not endure.” God makes it very clear over and over again that He has no tolerance for gossipers. People who get pleasure from discussing other people's problems - are infected with a fatal illness! But praise the Lord - He has a cure! Pray David’s prayer in Psalm 141:3, “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.” God can give you the victory over gossip!

How you talk - says a lot about your character. If you are sarcastic, negative, or grumpy when you address others - it reflects on “who” you are - not just the mood you are in that day! Some people speak kindly to co-workers, friends and even strangers but once inside their own home it’s a whole different picture. They snap at their spouse, yell at their children, scold the dog and basically treat their family without respect. Using words with sarcasm and disgust no matter who they are addressed to - doesn’t reflect a heart surrendered to Jesus! Sharp words wound the soul and once spoken - can not be taken back. Instead of being negative - choose to be positive, kind and loving and let your words demonstrate to all those around you that you belong to Jesus! The Bible says in Colossians 4:6, “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” You may forget the words of kindness you spoke today - but those who received them may remember for a lifetime! Proverbs 16:24 says that; “ Kind words are like honey sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” Determine today to let your conversations reflect God’s love, not just those you want to impress, but to everyone - because your words speak volumes of not only ‘who’ you are - but ‘who’ you belong to!

Most people feel stressed trying to meet the demands in this fast-paced world. They have too many things to do - in too short of time and their minds are racing a hundred miles an hour! It’s no wonder why there’s so many who are zoned out on anti-anxiety pills and suffering from depression! But life doesn’t have to be this way! God wants you to have life and have it more abundantly! Claim God’s promise in Psalm 55:22, “Cast all your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.” You can also claim Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” Oh what a loving and faithful God who provides and takes care of His children. When you’re at your wits end and everyone is standing on your last nerve - stop - take a deep breath, and reflect on all the blessings in your life! Especially think back on the hard times. Those times that you thought life was so bleak you couldn’t possibly imagine living another day - yet God pulled you through! During every struggle in your life - you have not been alone for your Best Friend, Jesus has been with you every step of the way - and He’s not going to fail you now! Pray and ask God to organize your calendar and only say “yes” to what He wants you to do - and say “no” to everything else that isn’t on “God’s list!” You’ll soon realize that you’re “too blessed to be stressed!

We Need YOU JESUS

Too often, people hold onto hurt, pain and anger as if that was somehow going to make them feel better. They tell the first person who will stop long enough to listen and they endlessly share all the times that someone did them wrong! The bad thing about that is, every time they talk about it - the pain just gets deeper and the heart more bitter! As long as you are carrying around an anchor of pain - you can not possibly be happy! And even worse, unless you forgive - God won’t forgive you! The Bible says in Matthew 6:15, “But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Missing out on eternity is a pretty hefty price to pay for holding on to pain! Even those who “think” they have forgiven, sometimes fall into the “poor me trap,” and keep dredging it up, but as long as you insist on regurgitating all the bad things that have happened to you - you will not heal! It’s like having surgery and you keep ripping out your stitches over and over again - all the while clueless why you can’t seem to get well! The prescription for joy is this: Forgive, Forget, and Move On with Jesus! It really is that simple! Write that prescription down and put it on your refrigerator, in your bible, sticky note on the dash of your car, etc. and keep it there until finally it sinks in - Jesus is the ONLY Healer of hearts - why not give him all your anger, bitterness, and hurt . . . today!

You might be surprised to know that God loves “you!” Yes, the same “you” that makes mistakes, is filled with flaws and has real struggles . . . for He loves “you” just the way you are. He’s not waiting for you to be “perfect” before He extends His love to you nor is He wanting you to pretend to have it all together for His benefit! Just be real with God - without pretense. Talk to Him heart to heart, in your own down to earth voice. He’s not wanting a polished, proper, flowery prayer - but rather honest, “real talk” - friend to friend. There’s nothing worse than being fake - and just like most people can see right through the pretense . . . so can God. Being “real” with your heavenly Father allows your heart to be open so that God can not only speak to you, but transform you! There are plenty of religious fakes in the world who don’t have a clue who God really is. The truth is, being dishonest, or misrepresenting truth is a sin, for the Bible says in Proverbs 12:22, “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.” Make Jesus your Best Friend, by having an open, honest relationship with Him - or in other words, be yourself - and “Just Be Real!”

If MY people, which are called by MY NAME, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek MY FACE, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Seems like you can’t have a conversation these days without someone starting with, “Now, don’t tell anyone,” and then they proceed to tell you some juicy piece of gossip, ending with, “now, keep this between us ok?” And of course, the first person you run into - hears the whole story, but you’re careful to give the same admonition to “keep it quiet.” Some feel more justified in sharing the forbidden information as long as they “only” tell someone who they are close to and are quite sure would keep their confidence. And then there are others who wouldn’t dream of breaking their word but have no problem, giving “hints” so that their most trusted friend can “figure it out,” without them having to actually come right out and verbalize the secret knowledge. But no matter how you rationalize it in your own mind - it won’t make it right in God’s eyes. If you promise not to tell anyone - then God expects you to keep your word. Doing otherwise quite simply - is a lie, and it is breaking one of the ten commandments found in Exodus 20:16, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” The next time someone says, “Don’t tell anyone,” - before agreeing to keep their secret, stop and ask yourself: “Is this a promise I can keep?”

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everyone was trustworthy, honest, and kind? Just think how awesome it would be to do business and not worry you’re getting a bad deal? And wouldn’t it be reassuring if you could confide in someone, and trust that you won’t see it the next day all over Facebook? And how amazing it would be, if you could walk down the street anytime day or night and feel safe? But the truth is, there will not be equality, complete honesty, or safety as long as we live on this sinful earth. This world is not fair and it never will be until Jesus comes again! But there is “hope” while on this life’s journey because there is someone you “can” trust with all your heart and that person is your Best Friend Jesus! He will never let you down, deceive you or hurt you in any way! And the good news is - He loves you so much that He’s coming soon to take you home to heaven to live with Him for all eternity! Soon the things of this earth will pass away and you will never feel sad, discouraged, angry, or lonely ever again! You will be happier than you could ever dream possible for each day will be more glorious than the day before! Yes, heaven is worth waiting for - so no matter how bleak life looks today - stay faithful, and keep holding God’s hand . . . for the best is yet to come!

How you treat others would be totally different if you could see inside their hearts, That dirty look you gave the person who took their time getting off the elevator might not have happened if you knew that just moments before they learned their only child was killed and they were paralyzed with grief. And you might have had more patience with the grumpy sales clerk if you knew she was a single mom and working three jobs. It’s easy to make judgement calls about people based on what you see, but what God sees is far more accurate and gives the real picture of what is going on. That’s why it’s important to spread the love, share a smile and forgive quickly. When someone is unkind to you, unless you know you did something to deserve it - don’t take it personally! Don’t be easily offended and have unkind thoughts towards others. Chances are, it had nothing to do with you but rather what that person was going through. Always extend the same grace and mercy that God gives you. After all, God’s grace is when He gives you what you don’t deserve and His mercy is when He “doesn’t” give you what you “do” deserve! In other words, no one deserves His grace & mercy - but praise God that He loves you enough to look past your unworthiness. The Bible says in Ephesians 4:7, “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.” So instead of being easily offended - exercise grace and mercy.

Study to show thyself approved unto GOD, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing THE WORD of TRUTH.

Why is it that there are some sins that no matter how much you try - you tend to repeat over and over again. You even go to the Lord with a sincere heart filled with remorse, and ask forgiveness but when the temptation rolls around again, you make the same mistake. It is then with exasperation and despair that you approach God’s throne room . . . perhaps even somewhat embarrassed to ask God for forgiveness one more time. If you are feeling as if you are the only one who has ever felt this frustration, read what the apostle Paul writes in Romans 7:15-25, “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. . . . For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.” The secret to maintaining a life of righteousness, is to always abide with Christ. The minute you take your eyes off Jesus - you will fall! The Bible says in 1 John 3:6-10, “No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; . . . Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil . . . No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, . . . By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God.” The only way to stop the cycle of repetitive sins - is to stay close to Jesus!

Why is it that no one seems to notice when you’re in pain, sad, or hurting? You could be depressed for weeks and those around you are seemingly oblivious. But if you were to make a mistake - why, everyone seems to notice and are all too quick to point it out! Fortunately, God isn’t watching you with devilish anticipation just waiting for you to mess up! He loves you so much that He is at your side the very second you call on Him - for He hears AND responds to your cries for help. The Bible says in Zephaniah 3:17, “The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing.” How wonderful to know that your Savior cares! He not only notices when you are sad, lonely, or suffering from a broken heart - but He lifts you up and gives you the strength, comfort, and courage you need to carry on. In Psalm 37:24, Scripture says, “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand.” What a beautiful promise that you can claim - God will uphold you - He will lift you up! What an awesome God who loves you more than you could possibly imagine! When you are at your lowest and it feels no one notices whether you are dead or alive - remember God not only notices, but He cares and stands by ready to respond the instant you call.

God is pleased when you work hard but He doesn’t base His approval on how much you make or how prestigious your position. Instead, He values your honesty, integrity, patience, and trustworthiness. God looks inward because a heart filled with joy produces peace and fulfillment in all aspects of your life - including work! The Bible says in Philippians 4:11, “Not that I speak in regard of need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.” Although work is needed to provide income for daily living, God doesn’t intend for it to be a drudgery. When you allow Jesus to dwell in your heart, no matter the task - there is joy. Whatever deadlines, household chores, exams, or an endless ‘to-do list,’ - do it all to for the glory of God. You’ll find your day will go a whole lot better with a song in your heart - even in spite of a demanding boss, irritating co-workers, or an unpleasant task. Instead of dreading getting out of bed in the morning to go to work - take time for spiritual food - pray and ask God to fill you up to overflowing with His joy. Then, follow God’s advice in Ecclesiastes 9:10, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going

Trust in THE LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own
understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge HIM, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear THE LORD, and depart from evil.

There’s something sorely missing in our world today and that is the inability to put others first. We’ve become a selfish society where we are so focused on what we want, that stepping on someone else to get there, just doesn’t seem to matter. But God is very clear on how He views selfishness. The Bible says in James 3:16, “For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” And in Philippians 2:3 we’re told, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” Being “self-centered,” never brings happiness.Real joy comes from Jesus and becoming more like Him. When Christ was here on earth, He was always thinking of others and went out of His way to be kind, and helpful. Without ever complaining, He spent countless hours healing the sick, giving words of encouragement, doing acts of kindness, and all the while enduring hunger, lack of sleep and the constant pushing and shoving of the crowds. When He was beaten, bruised, bleeding and dying on a cross - He wasn’t thinking of himself. Instead - He thought of His mother, His friends, the thief next to Him on a cross and each one of us that we might live eternally with Him! So, toss out the “Me First Mentality” by implementing a “Christ First Mentality” and strive to become more like Him!

Some people have a hard time admitting their wrong or that they’ve made a mistake. Instead of owning up to their fault–they immediately go into “defensive mode,” and try to justify their actions. But making excuses for your own blunders doesn’t change what you did nor does it make you look good in the eyes of others. Most of the time, people see right through your attempts to make yourself appear blameless and you really haven’t fooled anyone but yourself. More importantly–you can’t fool God. Self-preservation is a natural human response but it can be a deceptive one. It’s easier to see the faults in others than it is to see your own sin. But just look in the mirror and take a good look at what is wrong in your own life. You’ll have a full time job keeping yourself on the right path–no need to point out the faults of others. The Bible says in Luke 6:41-42, “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye.” No one is perfect–everyone is a sinner - so instead of focusing on everyone else’s problems–work on yours! Ask God to help you see the sin in your own life more than you see the faults of others–and don’t forget to ask Him for an extra measure of love for your fellow man.

One of the most sought after goals in life - is success! But everyone has a different view of just what “success” really means. To some, it is based on financial gain, power, or fame. While others think they have achieved success if they have the lifestyle of their dreams - wonderful spouse, perfect children, beautiful house and lavish vacations. But God views success much differently because He measures success in terms of your personal relationship with Him. Are you obedient in accomplishing His purposes and goals? Are you faithful in your tithes and offerings? Do you cherish your “alone time” with Him? Are you kind, loving and sharing His love with others? There are many Bible characters who were considered failures by their friends and acquaintances but were highly successful in God’s eyes. For instance, Jeremiah was poor, homeless, thrown in prison and although he was God’s messenger for forty years - no one listened when he spoke. People thought he was a complete failure, but in God’s eyes he was a huge success because he was faithful in all that God asked of him. Strive to achieve success in “God’s eyes” and you’ll not only enjoy a more meaningful and joy-filled life here on earth - but for eternity as well

During your darkest hours, when everything seems to go wrong, it’s tempting to look around at all your friends and neighbors and think that you are the only one who is suffering. It might even appear that others have the perfect life and God must love them more. But no matter how long you linger at your “pity party,” and want to believe bad things only happen to you - please know this: God does NOT play favorites! He loves all His children equally and even if you had been the only sinner on earth - He still would have given His life to save . . . you! That’s how much you mean to Him - and there is simply no greater love than that! Just because God didn’t give you the same talents as your brother or sister does not mean He loves them more. God made all His children uniquely different and He has a special plan for each one. It doesn’t matter what role you play - it only matters that you are following His plan. In order to know God’s will for you it requires prayer, faith, and surrender. When you have fully surrendered your will to “His will,” that is when God can use you fully and completely for His honor and glory. But it all starts with surrender. When your heart is willing to be “everything “ or “nothing” - you will find the purest form of joy and contentment. The Bible says in Philippians 4:12-14, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” What an awesome way to live your life, putting God in charge and knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that ALL His children - are His favorites!

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of GOD, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto GOD, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this
world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, Will of
GOD

No matter how heartbroken and discouraged you feel from losing a loved one, don’t give up on “living,” - instead hold on to Jesus and keep holding on! He will give you the strength you need to face each day and heal your broken heart. It is painful to lose a loved one and the more you love - the deeper the pain. That old expression “It is better to have loved and lost, than to never have loved at all,” is really only understood by a person who has lost someone they dearly loved, for when you love “that” much, you wouldn’t trade the time you had with that person for anything! You would go through the pain all over again, just to experience that closeness with them, even if it was but for a short time. You might say that love comes with a pretty hefty price tag! It takes time to adjust to “loss” and finding your “new normal.” When you lose someone you love deeply, there is no such thing as “getting over it.” You don’t “forget,” but with God’s help you learn to accept the loss, cope with the pain, live with the memories, and once again, find the joy in living! God doesn’t expect you to bear loss alone - He wants you to lean on Him for strength, support, and love - so hold on tight to God’s hand . . . and keep holding on!

The old expression, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me,” is quite simply - just not true! Words are powerful! They can cut like a knife and leave painful wounds that can lead to a lifetime of self doubt, poor self esteem and self loathing! How you use your words can either help or hurt others. The sad thing about hateful words is - that once spoken - they can never be taken back! The damage is done. That’s why it’s so important to choose your words carefully, speak with kindness, and always consider how your words will be received. A kind, gentle word can do wonders to lift someone's spirits and bring joy and healing to a broken heart. The Bible says in Proverbs 15:23, “A person finds joy in giving an apt reply and how good is a timely word!” The most powerful words come from the Bible - God’s Holy Word. If we truly listen to what He is saying, God gives us the instruction, courage, strength and wisdom we need to speak in such a manner that we represent Him, and as long as Jesus is shining through - you never have to worry about saying the wrong thing!

When parents teach their children to love Jesus, they take them to church, read character-building books to them, restrict violent programs on television, teach them to pray, and all the other usual things parents do to help kids learn about God. But the most effective way to teach children about who God really is - is to teach by example! You can read them the entire Bible, but unless they see Jesus in “you,” . . . they won't truly believe. When a crisis strikes, do your children see you crying, fretting, complaining, and angry - or do they see you turn to Jesus for help, with full faith and confidence that He has everything under control? When something wonderful happens - do you immediately praise Jesus? Children learn by example and seeing faith work in your life, shows them that God is real and He is with you through the ups and downs - not just in the good times. It teaches kids that having a relationship with God is the only way to deal with life’s problems and that no matter what - He is with them always. The Bible says in Titus 2:7, “In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness.” and in 1 Timothy 4:12, we’re told, “Let no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” Be an example to your children by letting them see you thanking God for the good times, and turning to Him “first,” . . . when trouble strikes . . . letting them see firsthand what a real relationship with God is like!

Some people sometimes get discouraged because they don’t understand God’s Holy Word and what He is trying to say to them. They get frustrated because they just can’t seem to interpret God’s directions or make sense of His plan for their lives. But if you want understanding, then you must have a close relationship with Jesus, for when your heart is right - His words become clear. You see, God is not hiding his messages from you - rather He is waiting for you to develop the right spiritual condition so that you’ll understand. The Bible says in John 16:12, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” You must develop a oneness with Christ through His Holy Spirit before you are prepared to comprehend His truth. When Jesus is your Best Friend, every aspect of your life changes. Some people like to talk about their “mountain top experience,” but there is no connection between what they say and how they actually live. Because, when you’re heart is right with God - your daily actions are living proof of Christ dwelling within you. In other words, a Christian truly fueled by the Holy Spirit doesn’t have to wear a name tag or walk around with a sign announcing their love for God - for when you are fueled by Holy Spirit power - it is evidenced by your every deed and action - for the light of His love will shine through you! Text: John 16:13, Mark 4:11-12, Jeremiah 17:9, 1 Corinthians 2:1-16e discouraged and it seems all hope is gone - look up - for Jesus IS your “hope!”

Spreading lies about someone is a sin! No sugar coating, no glossing over the facts - there will be no gossipers in heaven. In Leviticus 19:15, God’s command is very clear, “'You shall not go about as a slanderer among your people, and you are not to act against the life of your neighbor; I am the LORD.” Spreading rumors, misinformation or unconfirmed facts has been used since Bible times as a weapon to destroy your enemies. It’s the first thing people do when they get angry with someone because they want to tear down that person’s reputation to all who will listen. And social media has made spreading lies happen at an astonishing speed! Getting even by gossiping might momentarily give you a morbid sense of pleasure but that evil satisfaction quickly disintegrates and is replaced with guilt, and bitterness. It’s that horrible feeling when sin separates you from God! Pure and simple, destroying the reputations of others will destroy your own relationship with your heavenly Father! And there is nothing that is worth that! Words you speak have the ability to either tear someone down - or lift someone up! Anytime you talk bad about someone, spread juicy gossip about them, or manipulate the minds of others by planting false ideas or exaggerated facts - it is a sin. And whether you are the one who is spreading the gossip or the one listening - it is sin! The Bible says in Proverbs 20:19, not to even associate with someone who gossips! And in Exodus 23:1, it says, "You shall not bear a false report; do not join your hand with a wicked man to be a malicious witness.” Determine in your heart to always speak kindly of others and when someone starts to tell you some juicy gossip - walk away! Pray this prayer in Psalm 141:3, “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips

It’s not enough to “do the right thing” - it’s also important to make sure you avoid even the appearance of evil. For instance: the person you’ve been giving Bible studies to happens to drive by just at the very moment you are coming out of a tavern - they probably will judge you as a hypocrite and you may never know why they suddenly stopped the studies. And you may also never have the chance to tell them that you had just gone in to use the restroom. If you’re a single girl traveling across country with a couple of your guy friends - you may be completely innocent, staying in separate hotel rooms - but there will be those who will think you’re less than pure. The Bible says in Romans 14:13, “Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.” God wants you to live your life as a living example of Christ abiding in you. To do that, you need to be conscious of how others will see you and strive for all your actions to reflect Jesus. You can’t win others to Christ if you are not living a righteous life yourself. In other words: you need to not only ‘talk the talk’ - but ‘walk the walk!’ For example: instead of having lunch at a quiet restaurant alone with your best friend’s spouse so you can plan their birthday surprise - choose to have it a mutual friend’s house and invite others to join the planning party. In all cases, avoid appearances of evil and choose to be a living witness for Christ in all that you do and say!

All Scripture is given by inspiration of GOD, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,
and to give HIS Life as a ransom for many

JESUS saith unto him, I am THE WAY, THE TRUTH , and THE LIFE: no man cometh unto
the FATHER, but by ME

The devil wants you to believe you can experience all the evil pleasures of this world without painful consequences - but that couldn’t be further from the truth. You can’t have a foot in God’s kingdom and the other one on the devil’s playground. You must choose a side - you can not straddle the fence! The Bible says in 1 John 2:15, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” When you love the world you care more about what people think of you, how much money you have, your status in the community, how well traveled you are or how prestigious your job is. But when you fall in love with Jesus - you care more about what He thinks of you and heaven is your goal. You are motivated to serve God and to share His love with others and you would rather die than disappoint your Lord and Savior. We’re told in Romans 8:13, “For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die,” and God gives each of us life saving advice in Haggai 1:5, “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Give careful thought to your ways.” God imparts wisdom through His Holy Word so that you’ll have all the information you need to make the right decisions along this difficult journey of life. Decide today to stop straddling the fence and choose God’s kingdom . . . for your life depends on the choice you make.

The Word of GOD contains so many great Bible verses about children. Anyone raising children knows how difficult things can get but also what a blessing the children are. I have put together a list of Bible verses to help understand what the Bible says about children, the importance of raising and teaching children and some famous children from the Bible. I pray that GOD speaks to you and touches your heart with these Scriptures. Remember the Bible tells us not to merely listen to the Word of GOD but to do what it says (James 1:22).

Godly Children Bible Scripture Quotes
Genesis 18:19   For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”
Proverbs 22:6  Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Isaiah 54:13  All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.

Colossians 3:21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of Godmay be competent, equipped for every good work.